Murder, romance and reality in west Cork
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Someone told me that Gemma O'Connor was described in a review as having invented a new style of novel -'Anglo-Irish crime fiction' - and I had to have a look. This novel is set on a beautiful estuary in the south west of Ireland, and there are some 'Anglo' resonances (less, I believe, than in previous novels). Her grasp of the many difficult nuances of local life, her well-drawn characters and their complex interelationships make this a really satisfying book. She made me see this small community as very real people, from the troubled policeman Recaldo who comes from Dublin and has to fit in with the locals at the same time as he investigates the death of the extravagantly difficult Evangaline Walter, to the abused wife and her sweet son, who befriend the ageing and outcast priest. Her romance with Recaldo is very touching and real, fraught with danger as it would be in real life. Altogether this is a book of real depth and intelligence, exploring a world that O'Connor seems to know well, and to question as well as describe. I recommend it highly - a terrific read.
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Another winner from Gemma O'Connor
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I have read all of Gemma O'Connor's books, and in my view this is her best yet. For the first time, she has abandoned the formula of time-shifting, and as a result has produced a flowing narrative with a strong plot line. The characters in this novel are compelling, in particular the detective Frank Recaldo, who finds himself the unwilling protagonist at the centre of the murder investigation, his would-be lover Cressida Sweeney and the tragic ex-priest, John Spain. The descriptions of the estuary are haunting and lyrical. The estuary itself, half sea half river, is the central metaphor for the population of incomers who inhabit Passage South. This is an excellent read.
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An intriguing read that keeps you guessing
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Written with a mixture of delightfully descriptive prose and flowing dialogue, Gemma O'Connor's excellent new novel is a tangled web of lies and intrigue where each character has a past that they would rather keep concealed. The story centres on the investigating policeman, Francis Xavier Recaldo, and his relationship with the local people of Passage South and the new money that has settled in this quiet community. As each truth and half-truth unfurls, you can never be sure who to believe and a conflict of interests soon arises as Recaldo battles to uncover the identity of the murderer whilst trying to protect the ones he loves. An enjoyable read that gives you a real feel for rural Ireland. I haven't read anything by Gemma O'Connor before but I would certainly recommend to anyone.
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